Device for holding cleaning implements

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and manipulating compressible cleaning implements. The device comprises a handle and a blade attached to the handle. The blade is provided with an opening and a channel communicating with the opening and with the outer edge of the blade. The inner end of the channel is narrower than the diameter of the opening so that compressible cleaning implements inserted into the opening through the channel cannot migrate out of the opening during use. The channel is positioned in the portion of the blade that is proximal to the handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates a device for holding cleaning implements such as those used in bathing, dishwashing, and other cleaning tasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning implements such as sponges, mesh balls and similar flexible compressible porous and permeable materials commonly are used to clean the skin of people and animals, as well as to clean inanimate objects. While is usually is quite easy to apply soap to these cleaning implements, and to apply them in a scrubbing manner by means of the user's hands, it very often is not so easy to get them into positions where they can be placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned, such the back of a bather and the interior of a bottle or jar. In addition, some cleaning solutions are very hot, or are caustic or the like, in which case the user needs to protect his or her hands. While this can be done with gloves, the problem of reaching inaccessible places remains.

Thus, what is needed is a means for holding and manipulating such cleaning implements that addresses the aforementioned problems. Such a device would assist a user in cleaning hard-to-reach locations while allowing the cleaning implements to readily be attached and detached.

SUMMARY

The inventive device for holding a cleaning implement having a compressible portion comprises a handle and a blade attached to the handle. The blade has oppositely oriented first and second blade faces and an outer blade edge surrounding the blade. There is an opening through the blade and the first and second blade faces that is defined by an inner blade edge. There also is a channel through the blade and the first and second blade faces, which extends from the inner blade edge to the outer blade edge. The channel is defined by a first channel edge and a second channel edge.

More specifically, the inventive device for holding cleaning implements having a compressible portion comprises a handle and a blade of generally curvilinear shape attached to the handle. The blade comprises first and second blade faces and is defined by an outer blade edge surrounding the blade. A substantially circular opening defined by an inner blade edge is provided through the blade and the first and second blade faces. A channel also is provided through the blade and the first and second blade faces. The channel extends from the inner blade edge to the outer blade edge, and is defined by a first channel edge and a second channel edge. The width of the channel at the inner blade edge is less than the width of the channel at the outer blade edge and is less than the diameter of the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the inventive device for holding scrubbing implements.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mesh ball cleaning implement that can be used in conjunction with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a layered cloth cleaning implement that can be used in conjunction with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a contoured sponge cleaning implement that can be used in conjunction with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a round sponge cleaning implement that can be used in conjunction with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the device and a cleaning implement installed therein.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cleaning implement having a hemispherical cleaning pad on one side and brush bristles on the opposite side.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the means by which the cleaning implement of FIG. 8 is attached to the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION

The following description is of a preferred embodiment of the invention. As best shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning implement holding device comprises a handle 2 and a blade 3. Handle 2 can be of any desirable shape, size and length. For example, its cross-section can be circular or otherwise curvilinear, rectangular, or other suitable configuration, and it can be straight or curved. It can be made of any desirable material, such as wood, metal or plastic. Blade 3 has an outer blade edge 4 outlining its periphery, and an inner blade edge 5, which defines a central opening 6. Opening 6 may be any desirable shape, but preferably is circular. Blade 3 may be of any suitable shape, and is shown here in a preferred circular shape, and it may be stiff or flexible. Blade 3 has a first face 7 and a second face 8. A channel 9 extends radially between outer edge 4 and inner edge 5, bounded by a first channel edge 10 and a second channel edge 11. Channel 9 can be of constant width along its length, but advantageously is tapered outwardly from inner blade edge 5 to outer blade edge 4. The width of channel 9 at inner blade edge 5 is less than the maximum dimension of opening 6, which is the diameter if opening 6 is circular. The thickness 12 of blade 3 (FIG. 2) is such that it engages and grips both of the portions of the cleaning implement, and the width 13 is sufficient to provide backing support for the cleaning implement when it is pressed against a surface in a scrubbing manner. The taper of channel 9 is sufficient to allow the cleaning implement to be inserted into opening 6. Handle 2 and blade 3 can be attached together by any suitable means, or can be molded together as a single element.

It is probable that the vast majority of the scrubbing strokes applied by the user to the inventive device will be back and forth along the direction of the longitudinal axis of handle 2. For this reason, while channel 9 can be located anywhere on blade 3, it is advantageous to position the central axis of channel 9 at such an angle to the longitudinal axis of handle 2 as to minimize the tendency of the forces acting upon the cleaning implement during longitudinal scrubbing strokes to cause the cleaning implement to migrate from opening 6 into channel 9. A line a-a is shown in FIG. 1 through the longitudinal axis of handle 2, and a line b-b denotes the center axis of channel 9. An angle of 90 degrees between the two would provide maximum protection against outward migration during the said back and forth scrubbing strokes, but would minimize such protection during the less common side to side scrubbing strokes. It is preferred to orient channel 9 at a substantial angle to the axis of handle 2, that is, with channel axis b-b being within a range of 45 to 60 degrees from a line through handle axis a-a. An angle between line a-a and line b-b that is very effective in balancing the various scrubbing patterns that can be expected is about 60 degrees, as is illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to effectively accommodate the most commonly used cleaning instruments, preferred dimensions for the components are as follows: The length of handle 2 is in the range of 12-18 inches. The length of blade 3 is in the range of 3-8 inches and the width is in the range of 3-6 inches. The diameter of opening 6 is in the range of 1-3 inches, and the width of channel 9 is in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches. The thickness of blade 6 is selected to allow the blade to flex somewhat while still providing backing for the cleaning implement.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7 are examples of types of cleaning implements that are usable in the inventive device. FIG. 3 shows a mesh pouf 15, which commonly is used by a person in the shower. It comprises a plurality of layers of mesh material, joined together at a central core. FIG. 4 shows a layered sponge 16, which also is held together at a central core. The implement shown in FIG. 5 is a contoured sponge 17, and that of FIG. 6 is a common round sponge 18.

Another type of cleaning implement 19 that can be used in the invention is shown in FIG. 8. With implement 19, different types of cleaning devices can be presented on either side of blade 3, and applied to surfaces to be cleaned by flipping over blade 3. In this example, a base element 20 is provided with spaced circular mounting panels 21 and 22, which are attached together at their centers by a rectangular attachment element 23. Element 23 is at least slightly compressible and its uncompressed length is greater than the diameter of opening 7. For illustrative purposes, a sponge 24 is shown as being attached to panel 21 and brush bristles to panel 22. To install implement 19, attachment element 23 is inserted longitudinally through channel 9, and then the implement is rotated to compress element 23 and frictionally lock it in opening 6.

The principle of operation of the inventive device is to hold a compressible portion of a cleaning implement in place in blade 3 by squeezing that portion of the implement into opening 6, where the implement is held in place by friction at the area of reduced radius. This is accomplished by pressing the compressible portion of the cleaning implement through channel 9 until it reaches opening 6, where it expands to fill opening 6. Because the width of channel 9 is less than the diameter of opening 6, the cleaning implement cannot easily migrate outwardly through channel 9 during use. The outwardly tapered edges 10 and 11 of channel 9 make it easier for the user to insert the appropriate portion of the cleaning implement into the channel. The size of opening 6 must be less than the diameter of the implement that is being held therein, so that once in channel 6 it is secured by friction and by the expanded portions that now are present on either side of blade 3. By way of example, a portion of the sponge 18 shown in FIG. 6 is pressed into channel 9 and is deformed while being squeezed through the channel until it arrives in opening 6, where it expands to such an extent as to completely fill opening 6. The result of this procedure is shown in FIG. 7. Once in place, the cleaning implements are held securely to withstand the forces placed upon them by the cleaning process. In this regard, locating channel 9 in the portion of blade 3 that is proximal to the point at which handle 2 is attached provides added protection against the implement being dislodged when cleaning strokes are made along the longitudinal axis of the handle are applied. Inner edge 5 of blade 3 can be blunt, or it can be tapered to allow it to cut into the inserted cleaning implement. The same is true of channel edges 10 and 11.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A device for holding a cleaning implement having a compressible portion comprising: a handle; and a blade attached to said handle and having oppositely oriented first and second blade faces, an outer blade edge surrounding said blade, an opening through said blade defined by an inner blade edge, and a channel through said blade and extending from said inner blade edge to said outer blade edge, said channel being defined by a first channel edge and a second channel edge; whereby a compressible portion of said cleaning implement can be passed through said channel into said opening and held in said opening by engagement with said inner blade edge and said first and second blade faces.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said opening is substantially circular.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said blade is of generally curvilinear shape.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said blade is flexible.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge increases from said inner blade edge to said outer blade edge.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said opening has a maximum opening width and the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge at said inner blade edge is less than said maximum opening width.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said opening is substantially circular and the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge at said inner blade edge is less than the diameter of said opening.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle extends from said first blade edge and has a handle longitudinal axis and wherein said channel has a channel central axis, and further wherein said channel central axis is at a substantial angle to a line extending through said handle longitudinal axis.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said cleaning implement is of sponge material.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said cleaning implement is of layered mesh material.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein said cleaning implement comprises a compressible attachment element having oppositely oriented first and second surfaces and a first cleaning element on said first surface and a second cleaning element on said second surface.
 12. A device for holding cleaning implements having a compressible portion, said tool comprising: a handle; a blade attached to said handle, said blade comprising first and second blade faces and defined by an outer blade edge surrounding said blade, said blade transcribing a generally curvilinear shape; a substantially circular opening through said blade defined by an inner blade edge; a channel through said blade and extending from said inner blade edge to said outer blade edge, said channel being defined by a first channel edge and a second channel edge, the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge at said inner blade edge being less than the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge at said outer blade edge and less than the diameter of said substantially circular opening; whereby the compressible portion of a cleaning implement can be passed through said channel into said substantially circular opening and held in said substantially circular opening by engagement with said inner blade edge and said first blade face and said second blade face.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said blade is flexible.
 14. The device of claim 12 wherein said handle is elongated.
 15. The device of claim 12 wherein said handle has a handle longitudinal axis and said channel has a channel central axis, and wherein said channel extends outwardly from said inner blade edge to said outer blade edge with said channel axis at an angle in the range of 45 to 60 degrees to a line through said handle longitudinal axis.
 16. The device of claim 12 wherein said handle has a handle longitudinal axis and said channel has a channel central axis, and wherein said channel extends outwardly from said inner blade edge to said outer blade edge with said channel axis at an angle of about 60 degrees to a line through said handle longitudinal axis.
 17. The device of claim 12 wherein said cleaning implement is of sponge material.
 18. The device of claim 12 wherein said cleaning implement is of layered mesh material.
 19. The device of claim 12 wherein said cleaning implement comprises a compressible attachment element having oppositely oriented first and second surfaces and a first cleaning element on said first surface and a second cleaning element on said second surface.
 20. The device of claim 12 wherein the length of said blade is in the range of 3 to 8 inches, the width of said blade is in the range of 3 to 6 inches, the diameter of said opening is in the range of 1 to 3 inches, and the distance between said first channel edge and said second channel edge is in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches. 